John Baughman, Executive Vice President (Retired) of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, says, “If you look back at the truly great conservation success stories in North America, the only common element is exceptional leadership.”

Jack Ward Thomas, Chief Emeritus, USFS, Emeritus Boone and Crockett Professor of Conservation, University of Montana, says, “The National Conservation Leadership Institute is a critically needed next step in assuring that our nation has the ‘leadership horsepower’ to carry the conservation effort into the new century.  When the best and brightest in the conservation arena combine their talents in this evolving mix of faculty and students, I expect the result to be the best leadership in conservation that our nation has yet experienced. The circumstances of the early 21st century demand no less.”

Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, says, “Like fire, hope is easy to extinguish, but quickly reignited with the use of the right elements. Magnificent innovation and exciting conservation careers are waiting on the other side of that polluted horizon.”

Max Peterson, Chief Emeritus U. S. Forest Service and Executive Vice President of the AFWA - Retired, says, “Leadership in the past has been critical to the management of natural resources. Leadership for the future is of particular importance with the anticipated high level of retirement coupled with the NR challenges we face.”

Bob Munson, one of the initial Founders of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, says, “Conservation leadership is born of passion and carried onward by tenacity as one learns from sage mentors who truly understand that the future of wildlife and its habitat is carried forward ONLY on the backs of those who care, are eager to learn, and are willing to make a difference.

Steve Williams, President, Wildlife Management Institute, says, “One of the most significant crises in conservation today is the approaching retirement of today’s top conservation leaders. NCLI’s leadership development program is a great opportunity to enable rising stars in the community to learn to deal effectively with issues that invariably will be even more complicated than those of today.”

Bob Brown, President, The Wildlife Society, says, "With the impending retirement of droves of federal and state agency personnel, our discipline is facing a shortage of experienced leaders ust at a time when our challenges may be the greatest. This program will help fill that gap."

Keith Campbell, Founder, Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment, says, "The benefits of trained environmental leaders cannot be underestimated."